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Traveling to the increasingly popular Latin American destination of Costa Rica is relatively easy as long as you have the right travel documents in order. The most reliable options for visitors to Costa Rica are by air and by land, with a plethora of international airline carriers and bus companies making their way into this small Central American country.

Items you will need

Passport

Round-trip tickets

Step 1

Verify that your passport will be valid for at least 30 days past your scheduled arrival date in Costa Rica, a requirement for citizens of most countries. You’ll also need to have a return ticket out of Costa Rica upon entry into the country, although this is not always strictly enforced.

Step 2

Book airline or bus tickets to Costa Rica more than a few months in advance to get the best fares. Most travelers fly into the international Aeropuerto Juan Santamaria, located just 10 miles from San Jose, while others fly into the Daniel Oduber Airport in the northern town of Liberia. Over a dozen airline companies fly to Costa Rica from international destinations, including United Airlines, US Airways, Air Canada, Delta, and the national airline carrier, Lacsa. Bus travel can be a good money-saving option for travelers coming from the neighboring countries of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua or Panama, with regular buses leaving from cities such as Panama City, Panama and Managua, Nicaragua (see Resources for bus routes and schedules). Round-trip tickets can be purchased at the bus stations in these cities.

Step 3

Get your passport stamped once you’ve entered Costa Rica, either at the airport or at border control if traveling by bus. Those taking an international bus into the country will have to exit the bus and go through the border controls of both countries before re-boarding. Bus drivers wait for each passenger’s travel documents to be processed before moving on. You may be asked to show your return ticket out of Costa Rica, so keep all the necessary travel documents on hand.

Step 4

Once in Costa Rica, travelers can head to their accommodations via public transportation, rental car or taxi. There are a number of airport shuttles to San Jose from the Juan Santamaria Airport and from the Daniel Oduber Airport into town. Public buses are reliable and cheap, if a bit slow, and bus terminals can be found throughout most major cities (see Resources for local bus schedules and fares). If taking a taxi, you can usually settle on a flat fee with the driver before heading to your destination. A number of reputable rental car companies have offices located at both Costa Rican airports and in major cities.

Tip

Airline fares to Costa Rica tend to be the priciest during peak travel season, which usually lasts from December to April.

Foreign travelers are required to keep their passports on them at all times when traveling throughout Costa Rica, so don’t leave the hotel without it.